New York State Office of Cannabis Management’s Cannabis Control Board Unanimously Passes its Revised Adult-use Cannabis Regulations
The wait is finally over. New York State Office of Cannabis Management’s (OCM) Cannabis Control Board (CCB) has unanimously passed its revised adult-use cannabis regulations after extensive public input. Notably, the final regulations remained largely unchanged from the May version, which received nearly 500 comments during the last public comment period. These regulations cover various aspects such as labs, enforcement, social equity provisions, licensing, business, and operational rules.
Starting October 4, 2023, the application window will open for cultivators, distributors, processors, microbusinesses, and retailers, lasting for 60 days, with applications for other license types expected to follow soon after. The CCB will expedite the review of applications for those who have secured their locations, beginning 30 days after the application window opens.
- Applicants seeking to apply as a Social and Economic Equity (SEE) applicant will be required to get a SEE certification to submit a SEE application. OCM encourages diverse applicants who can quickly operationalize to apply for registration, considering the demographics of the state.
- During this application window, Adult Use Conditional Cultivators (AUCCs) and Adult Use Conditional Processors (AUCPs) can begin the process of converting their licenses to standard licenses.
- Registered Organizations (ROs) will also have the opportunity to apply for an Adult Use (AU) license in October, allowing medical cannabis operators to enter the market, although the OCM did provide a specific date. The application fee for ROs is $10,000, with a $200,000 2-year registration fee for approved applicants. Existing ROs will need to submit additional documentation, and the OCM will provide forms to facilitate the transition of compliant Registered Organizations into the adult-use market.
The CCB unanimously approved the opening of a cannabis research license application, allowing scientists, physicians, cultivators, and others to study real-world cannabis products. The application, costing $250, will be available on the OCM webpage starting tomorrow and will be accepted on a rolling basis. The total license fees will amount to $500.
Lastly, it was announced that Alex Bernabe, Chief of Staff & Senior Policy Director at the NYS Office of Cannabis Management, will be departing from the organization.
For the sample adult-use universal application, click here.
